Technology and Apps

Traveling in France, Spain and Portugal for over a month in September-October ’09, we found that using a GPS is a time/lifesaver. What an invention! No more having the wife trying to read a map or screaming at each other over missed turns.

“In one mile, enter roundabout”… “In 500 feet, enter roundabout and take third exit”… “Enter roundabout and take third exit, then turn right”… “Turn right and drive for five miles.” I’m sure you get the picture. We say, ‘Don’t leave home without it,’ and we never will again.

Because we carry computers, we are careful never to leave them out when and where hotel staff could see them. If room service or the maid who does evening service knocks on the door (which has been secured with the inside lock plus the chain), we quickly hide these items in our suitcase and put the lid down while the staff is in the room. There’s no reason to tempt anyone.

In his April ’09 column, Rick Steves referred to “the stringent US rules on limiting liquids on flights.” I would point out that he neglected to specify that those rules apply to carry-on bags, not checked.

In the same article, he wrote about the necessity of traveling with a cell phone. I use a Mobal phone (888/888-9162, www.mobal.com). I hate it for the hard-to-read screen and exposed buttons but love it because I pay only for time used, with no minimums per year.

Regarding using walkie-talkies while traveling (May ’09, pg. 20), please be advised that it is often illegal in Europe to use walkie-talkies with US frequencies without a license. Fines, confiscation and other penalties could be the result of unlicensed use of preassigned frequencies.

Most European Union countries post the frequencies available for unlicensed public use. Contact the consulates, most of which will say you will need a license and must register that you will be using certain frequencies.

Since my husband, Jim, and I have elderly family members, we wanted a way to keep in contact with them while on an Overseas Adventure Travel tour of Greece in May ’08. Our cell phone service is provided by Verizon (800/922-0204, www.verizonwireless.com), so I contacted the company to see if we could purchase a phone which would work in Greece.

While planning for a July ’07 trip to Norway (July ’08, pg. 32), I was given a tip for making long-distance telephone calls.

I am sharing with ITN readers my satisfaction with Telestial, Inc. (1804 Garnet Ave., Ste. 385, San Diego, CA 92109; phone 858/274-2686, fax 2757 or visit www.telestial.com), the international cell phone and prepaid phone card company. I’d say Telestial rates a 10 out of 10 for continuing customer support after purchase. Knowledgeable humans (!) assist politely and patiently. They even return calls.

Number one on my list of things which get packed is an international cell phone. I have one from Mobal Communications, Inc. (171 Madison Ave., Ste. 300, New York, NY 10016; phone 212/785-5800, fax 212/681-7431 or visit www.mobal.com).

You can order the $49 or $99 phone based on where you are traveling; the website will tell you which one you need.

Knowing that lawmakers are considering allowing cell phones to be used on planes, in the July ’05 issue (page 122) Rich Harvey of Athens, Ohio, asked if anyone else was opposed to the idea. Several readers replied, as follows.